k8science

K-5 SCIENCE
IN RED CLAY SCHOOLS
AND IN DELAWARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Since 1997, in kindergarten through grade 6, science students in Red Clay have used the curriculum and followed the instructional program designed by the state and adopted by our district. So, students who are now in 6th grade, have already participated in a standards-based, nationally recognized science program for six years! This curriculum of hands-on, inquiry-based science matches both national and state standards. Our science kits were created by FOSS [Full Option Science System] & the Lawrence Hall of Science in California, and by STC [Science and Technology for Children] from the Smithsonian Institute.

Here is a list of the science topics and kits used at each grade level:

KINDERGARTEN
   Senses - students study and practice using their five senses
              to make observations of the world around them
   Wood - students observe and classify various simple properties
             of five different woods
   Trees - students observes and learn about trees--their life cycles,
                care, parts, and their importance to people

FIRST GRADE
   Organisms - students observe homemade aquariums/terrariums
                 with plants & animals, to study living things
   Solids & Liquids - students compare/contrast observations of
       solid objects and liquids to develop recognizable properties
   Weather & Me - students use simple devices to observe, measure,
       and record weather phenomenon

SECOND GRADE
    Balancing & Weighing - students use balance beams and
                     equal-arm balances to study balance and weighing
    Soils - students test and observe sand, clay, humus, and gravel
            to learn important properties of soil and its components
    Butterflies - students raise Painted Lady butterflies to study insect
                   cycles of life

THIRD GRADE
   Earth Materials - students are introduced to rocks and minerals
                        as the basic building blocks of the earth's crust
   Human Body - students focus on the skeleton, muscles, and
                         nervous system in this kit
   Water - students study properties and characteristics of water

FOURTH GRADE
        Land & Water - students construct stream tables to study
              first-hand the effects of erosion on four soil components
        Electric Circuits - students build and test electric circuits, test
              materials for conductivity, and troubleshoot circuits
        Structures of Life - students compare various plant seeds,
              raise hydroponic bean plants, and closely observe crayfish

FIFTH GRADE
        Ecosystems - students create terrariums & aquariums to study
                interactions and dependencies among organisms
        Mixtures & Solutions - students compare/contrast mixtures
                with solutions, and study concentration & saturation
        Motion & Design - students build model cars to test ways to
                speed them up or slow them down; they modify cars
                to meet certain design criteria

In 6th grade, the kit Levers & Pulleys is related to 2nd grade Balancing & Weighing and 4th grade Electric Circuits. The kit Forces That Cause Motion ties directly back to 5th grade Motion & Design. And our Earth History kit builds on 2nd grade Soils, two 3rd grade kits, Earth Materials and Water, and the 4th grade kit Land & Water.